Postmodernism is an artistic and academic movement that emerged during the 1960s and '70s as a successor to Modernism. Postmodernism rejects many of the fundamental assumptions of Western civilization since the Enlightenment period of the 18th century. For instance, Postmodernists believe that there is no overarching truth, and any attempts to find one truth will only result in an individual interpretation of reality. Postmodernism, in breaking down barriers between elitist and popular forms of art and entertainment, has had a significant effect on Western society.
Modernism
Modernism was a movement in art, culture and philosophy that roughly began in the late 19th century and lasted until the 1960s and 1970s. Enlightenment philosophers had elevated reason over faith and celebrated the individual in the 1700s, but at the turn of the 20th century, Sigmund Freud's new theories about the unconscious and Albert Einstein's theory of relativity dethroned reason and the primacy of humans in the universe. In architecture, Modernism produced buildings that extolled the age of the machine and eschewed the past. Frank Lloyd Wright and Walter Gropius are examples of Modernist architects. In art, movements such as Cubism, Surrealism and Futurism typified Modernism and broke from traditional art, exploring different ways of viewing reality. Modernist literature included works by the writers James Joyce and T.S. Eliot. Writers such as Eliot and Joyce played with new forms, rejecting literary tradition and a straightforward narrative.
Definition of Postmodernism
Scholars agree that Postmodernists reject the precepts of the Enlightenment: no longer do Westerners believe in progress, the purity of knowledge or in certainties. There is no Truth, just truth, which depends on one's history and culture. Even science is no longer described as discovering verities but rather is seen as performing experiments and offering theories under paradigms that shift over time. Where Modernists tended to believe in the future and reject the past, Postmodernists are more pessimistic and do not see the world necessarily improving in the future.
Emergence of Postmodernism
Postmodernism first emerged in architecture and art during the 1960s and 1970s. Critics Robert Venturi and Charles Jencks found Modernist architecture to be too homogeneous and neglectful of function and surroundings. Postmodern architects such as Michael Graves and Philip Johnson stopped using the glass and geometric shapes of Modernist architecture, incorporated historical styles into their buildings and employed polychromy. Postmodern artists such as Andy Warhol broke down the barriers between the high-brow and low-brow in Pop Art. Postmodernist artists further distinguished themselves from Modernists by incorporating historical themes and styles in their work. As Postmodernists no longer believe that there is one right interpretation of an artwork, they have jettisoned the formalism of Modernist art, preferring personal styles based on a multiplicity of traditions and cultures.
Postmodernism in Music and Literature
Similar to how Andy Warhol bridged elitist and popular art, Postmodernist authors such as Thomas Pynchon used themes from genres, historically seen as uncultured, such as science fiction, in their works. Other writers such as John Barth took the Postmodernist project of inventing new forms even further with fragmented prose that often did not offer a clear narrative. Postmodernist music includes Philip Glass's minimalist works and John Cage's collaborative performances in which he involved the audience.
Postmodernism in the Academy
Postmodernism first emerged in the arts but also became quickly influential in academia, where literary theorists and philosophers consciously spoke of Postmodern theory. One influential theorist was Jacques Derrida, who was responsible for the literary theory of descontruction. Deconstruction arose from the idea that the meaning of a text is different for every reader. Just as there is no one truth, there is no one meaning inherent in a book, work of art or piece of music. Another Frenchman, Michel Foucault, took Derrida's deconstruction even further, asserting that each individual interpretation of the world is a declaration of power. With these precepts established, philosopher Richard Rorty has said that philosophy should no longer seek truth but rather should concentrate on discussing the various interpretations of reality.
